Disclaimer: Do I look rich? I don't own the Labyrinth or anything to do with it.
Wow. There were some great reviews and I…
Kaz: Hold it right there, Miss I'm-never-going-to-acknowledge-my-muses.
C.C: Yeah, what's up with that?
What the hell are you doing here?
Kaz: Reasserting ourselves.
Rayne: Right. Listen, you people gotta stop this. Her ego is getting so huge that..mrmph…
Ignore them. The reviewers:
Moonjava: Thank you very much.
Janine: Gee thanks. They're probably right about the ego thing with that sort of praise.
Eleanora Rose: Ok, ok, ok.
Anyana: Thank you much. I'm glad you enjoy the folk lore aspect. I have always been fascinated by it.
Avalon-blackandgreen: Do you think that if I had a life outside school and the net I'd have time to write this. In fact I'm not even sure where I do get the time….
LhiataThank you kindly.
Well, here you go guys. On schedule while I still have time.
C.C: Oh quit your whining.
They're just sore because I've neglected them for the last few months.
Kaz: Damn straight!!
Hope you enjoy.
December 15thSarah awoke with a groan. Her neck was uncomfortably stiff. She had fallen asleep on the window seat and Steve, who she could now hear was in the shower, had not deigned it necessary to wake her apparently. She glared accusingly at the blameless bathroom door. She didn't care if she smelled. Any odour could be covered up with a deodorant and a tasteful perfume. She pulled on a comfortable pair of jeans and a red roll neck sweater coupled with the runners from the day before. So she clashed slightly. She didn't care. She also grabbed her leather jacket which was flung over the back of a chair before running out the door while Steve was still whistling tunelessly in the shower.
Sarah paused half way down the stairs when she remembered just who had arrived at a late hour last night. She doubled back and headed down the secret stair that led to the kitchen. She walked in and Andre gave her a cheery smile as he stirred a bubbling pot of porridge.
She gazed into the pot. "Do you have any Frosties?"
He chuckled. "Second cupboard to the left."
She grinned at him as he poured her a cup of coffee. "Thanks Andre. Hey, is the Goblin King up there?" Andre nodded as he headed up the stairs. "You coming up?"
"Nope, and don't you dare tell him I'm down here either."
"Oui."
Sarah sat at the giant scarred table and looked at the selection of newspapers; The Irish Times, The Tribune, The Irish Independent and a host of other nation wide news papers.
Whoa, I wish we had this many international newspapers at home. Might actually hear what's going on out side America for once. She thought absently.
After a few minutes Etáin and Ionnina appeared from the dining room.
Etáin frowned. "You are down here. I almost didn't believe him."
Sarah pouted at them. "I told Andre not to tell."
"No you told him not to tell Jareth. Come on. Why aren't you up there? At least say hi."
"Id rather not have our first confrontation in eleven years near anything sharp."
"Oh come on Sarah."
"Etáin, please. Let me do this when I'm ready."
"But…" Ionnina shot her friend a warning look and then smiled encouragingly at Sarah. "Of course. Take all the time you need. But be aware, you can't avoid him forever."
"I know. I'm just trying to figure out how to start the conversation. You know: 'Hi Jareth. We haven't seen each other in eleven years. Sorry about that whole turning you down thing, even though it was only a ploy to beat me. I hope we can be friends.'"
Ionnina grimaced. "Hmm, I see your point."
Sarah sighed. "I'm going to go for a walk in the gardens. I'll see you guys later, k?"
"Alright. We'll talk later. You sort your thoughts out."
They both watched Sarah's retreating back. "I see hope."
"Etáin?"
"Yes?"
"You're an idiot."
Sarah found herself in the walled rose garden where she had first entered her proverbial rabbit hole. She swatted away a fairy as she made her way through garden. There was a slight frost on the branches and grass and her breath drifted in front of her. The roses which had been previously kept alive by what she could only assume was magic had been nearly totally destroyed by last nights storm. Broken petals in a mired of colours littered the ground.
A flash of white caught Sarah's eye and she turned to see one rose which seemed to have survived the battering of the elements. It seemed to be missing a few petals but it was other wise intact. She bent down to take a closer look.
Jareth was walking idly through the gardens. He didn't really know what had motivated him to come to this inane gathering but if he was here he was going to enjoy the break. He hated dealing with the idiots that called themselves politicians. The currant high court judge was a fool and had been having problems in settling a land dispute between Jareth and a neighbouring ruler.
Humph. Why anyone would actually want the Bog is beyond me but I'm not just going to give it away. He thought tiredly as he turned in to a walled enclosure.
The intricacies of the Underground hierarchy were unnecessary and ridiculous but there was nothing the small group who actually realised this fact could do. At least until the next election.
Jareth noticed that the magical flowers of this small walled garden had been all but destroyed by the violent weather of the previous night. He turned another corner and saw a woman leaning forward over one of the battered plants. She wore jeans and a mid length leather jacket and her dark hair was in a twist at the nape of her neck.
This must be that mortal chit. Well, might as well try and be nice. She does have a nice ass.
"I'm sorry for interrupting my lady. I am Jareth. Pleased to make your acquaintance."
The woman stood up straight as he spoke.
Ok. Breath. Just breath. We knew this would happen eventually. We just wanted to avoid it at all costs. Ok, be cool. Don't show weakness. He has no power over you remember?
Sarah was so tense it was painful. "I know who you are, Goblin King."
This time it was Jareth's turn to freeze as he heard a voice that he had thought he would never hear again.
Sarah turned to face Jareth and she flinched internally as she saw the disgusted look in his face. Well, there goes that whole let's be friends idea.
Sarah studied him as they stood facing each other. He hadn't changed much. He still stood tall his wispy blond hair drifting slightly in the wind. His eyes were still the same. One blue, cold as ice. One a warm brown. It's an odd experience looking into those eyes. Like looking at two different people in one. He wore his usual attire of high black boots, grey tights, white poets shirt with black vest and his long brown leather jacket.
He looked good, as always.
She set her face to a mask of indifference and nodded to him. "Jareth."
He sneered slightly. "Sarah. I certainly wasn't expecting to see you here."
"That makes two of us. My boyfriend sprung this on me. We only got here on Monday."
"Oh, so you're here with some fool you've roped in are you?"
Sarah scowled. "I am here with my boyfriend. We have a fabulous room you know." She smirked. "East tower. First floor. Beautiful."
Jareth frowned. "So, you are the one who took my room."
"Oh. Sorry about that." She said sarcastically.
Jareth's lip curled in to a cruel sneer. "I see you are still the spoilt little girl I dropped in an oubliette eleven years ago."
Sarah's face grew dark. "Well I'm not happy to see you either you egotistical, obnoxious, overdressed, oblivious prat." She shouted at him.
Jareth stormed up to her his eyes flashing dangerously. "Well at least I'm not a foolish, selfish, ignorant little girl who doesn't have the sense to grow up and deal with the real world around her."
"Well you've obviously missed out on the last eleven years of my life!" She shouted back.
"And why, prey tell, would I be interested in your dreary life?"
"Because it's more interesting than your pathetic existence in a shit hole of a castle surrounded by jabbering idiots."
With that Sarah turned on her heel and stormed around a corner.
"I do you wish you would refrain from chasing away our guests Jareth."
Jareth spun around to see Nadír and Cyros.
"You." He growled. "You knew she was here. You knew who she was. And you didn't tell me."
Cyros shrugged. "We don't deny it."
"Then why… Forget it. I don't even want to know what's going through your twisted minds." Jareth started towards the castle and Cyros grabbed his arm.
"You're not leaving are you?"
Jareth sighed dejectedly . "Only if she starts throwing things at me." And he continued on.
Etáin and Ionnina appeared from behind the wall. "Well she was right." Said Ionnina quietly as she went to her husband. "Definitely better to have that conversation without sharp implements."
Etáin nodded. "Yes. That could have gone better, couldn't it?"
"That's the understatement of the year my dear. We're lucky they both kept magik out of it."
Cyros nodded. "Especially with their respective elements, it could have been explosive…do you think Jareth knows that Sarah has such power yet?"
Ionnina shook her head. "I doubt he realises the extent of it if he does. She looks and feels like a regular descendant but her control and power is incredible. If she were trained I wouldn't want her as an enemy."
It was late.
Sarah knew it but she couldn't bring herself to start heading back to the castle. It was dark and cold as Sarah sat on the fence that looked over a field at the edge of the woods. She couldn't be bothered to warm herself or light her way. She liked the darkness. It was comforting.
And the cold? Well the cold just kept her awake. She watched her breath drift in front of her just as it had done that morning. She couldn't even think how long she had been out here.
She was depressed.
She was staying with a guy who she hated, a guy who hated her down the hall, and a bunch of magikal royalty in a country completely unfamiliar to her. Maybe she should just go home. It would be easier. She gazed up as the moon appeared briefly from behind some cloud before disappearing again. It was high in the sky making the time well past dinner. Her stomach rumbled in protest and Sarah gave in. She'd stop by the kitchen for something small and just go to bed. Maybe she'd feel better in the morning. She hopped of the fence and headed back in the direction of the castle.
"Really Etáin, your over reacting. You know the girl can take care of herself."
"But what if…"
"Stop it. She'll be fine."
"What's with the meeting and why wasn't I invited?"
Nadír, Etáin and Ionnina were crowded around the reception while Cyros leant against the wall. Cian and Fiona were seated on some stools. They all looked up to see Jareth coming down the main stairs. Etáin frowned and rushed over to him.
"This is all your fault you know. You just had to…" Nadír grabbed his wife and dragged her back to the counter.
Jareth looked understandably confused. "What is going on?"
Cyros looked over to them. "It's your Sarah."
"She is not my Sarah. She ….what's happened to her?"
Ionnina placed a calming hand on Etáin's shoulder before the woman set off again. "Well, she hasn't been back since she stormed off this morning. None of us nor her boyfriend has seen her."
Jareth raised an eyebrow. "Well I didn't tell her to go off and get lost." He said looking at Etáin. "Where is this boyfriend anyway? If she's been gone so long."
Etáin's face got even darker. "That bastard? He went to bed. Said she'd turn up eventually."
Jareth frowned. "I see she still knows how to pick them."
Etáin scoffed. "Ha. I wish I could punch that idiot every time he sits at my table."
Suddenly Andre appeared at the door. "She's back. She just went to bed after getting something to eat. She apologises and says she'll see you all in the morning."
Etáin growled. "Arrgh. I'm going to kill that girl."
Jareth smirked. "She does tend to have that effect on people. Well crisis averted. I'm going to bed. I've had enough of all this for one day. This was supposed to be a break."
Cyros laughed at his friend. "If you thought that when coming here, you're not as smart as you seem." Jareth smirked again and turned back up the stairs.
He was halfway down the corridor when suddenly Sarah herself appeared from behind a tapestry and slammed into him.
"Ahh, sorry I…Oh. It's you."
Jareth removed her hands from his shirt and set her steady as she had been using him to keep herself upright. "Yes it's me. You had my friends quite worried. Please don't do that again. It becomes quite tiresome."
He was standing very close and Sarah had to tilt her head up slightly to look into his eyes. "I thought you would have been glad to be rid of me."
He took a step back. "If you still think I am that callous, then you really haven't grown up."
This time it was Jareth's turn to stalk away.
Sarah thunked her head of the wall. "Stupid, stupid, stupid. Ok, apologise first chance you get. If you're lucky, he'll only dip you in the bog once. Or maybe feed you to the fireys."
Sarah slipped into her room, shutting the door softly. Steve was already asleep. Oh, nice to know you care 'hunny'.
End Chap.
Well, are you all happy now? They met. Muahahaha….ahem.
C.C: you could have at least gotten her to throw something at him.
Kaz: Yeah. You…
Shut up!!! Anyway, I don't think I need to ramble for this chapter. Ask me if you're unsure of anything. I get confused with this bloody thing.
Love it or hate it, you better review!
Slán.
